Get ready for your Class 10 board exams with this comprehensive guide on The Black Aeroplane by Frederick Forsyth. This post includes a detailed summary of the story, along with word meanings to enhance your vocabulary. Practice with extract-based MCQs to test your understanding, and tackle additional extra questions designed to strengthen your exam preparation. Whether you’re revising key concepts or practicing questions, this guide will help you master Black Aeroplane and ace your board exams.
- Summary of The Black Aeroplane
- Challenging words and expressions from The Black Aeroplane, along with their meanings:
- Thinking about the Text (Q&A of The Black Aeroplane)
- Thinking about the Language
- Writing
- Extract-Based MCQs from The Black Aeroplane
- Additional Subjective Questions and Answers for The Black Aeroplane (Important)
Summary of The Black Aeroplane
TheBlack Aeroplane by Frederick Forsyth is a mysterious story that takes readers on an unexpected flight through uncertainty and hope. The narrator, a pilot, is flying his Dakota aircraft from Paris to London one night, eagerly looking forward to a hearty English breakfast and the warmth of his family. The skies are clear, the stars shine bright, and all seems perfect until he encounters an enormous black storm cloud directly in his path.
Despite warnings from the control tower to avoid it, he decides to push through the storm. Inside, his Dakota shakes violently, with lightning illuminating the darkness, leaving him in complete disarray. Panic fills the air, and he begins to feel lost and helpless. Then, in a twist, he spots another plane—a black aeroplane with no markings—flying beside him. A shadowy figure inside signals to follow, and, desperate for guidance, the narrator obeys.
As if by magic, the black aeroplane leads him out of the storm and into clear skies. Relieved, he searches for the mysterious plane to thank the pilot, but it has vanished without a trace. After landing, he asks the control tower about the black aeroplane, only to discover that no other planes were flying in the storm that night. Confused yet grateful, the narrator wonders if it was a miracle or a guardian angel guiding him to safety.
This story, The Black Aeroplane, captures the power of mystery and the unexplainable forces that sometimes come to our aid, leaving readers with a sense of wonder and intrigue.
Challenging words and expressions from The Black Aeroplane, along with their meanings:
| Word/Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dakota | A type of aircraft (Douglas DC-3) used in the story |
| compass | An instrument showing direction (north, south, etc.) |
| control tower | The building from where air traffic is controlled |
| risk | A situation involving exposure to danger |
| radar | A system to detect the position of planes |
| fuel | A substance (like gasoline) that provides power |
| guidance | Help or advice about what to do |
| relieved | Feeling relaxed after worrying about something |
| strange | Unusual or unexpected |
| instruments | Devices or tools used to control an aircraft |
| visibility | How clear or visible something is |
| mysterious | Difficult to understand or explain |
| storm clouds | Dark clouds that bring bad weather |
| stranded | Left alone without a way to move forward |
| puzzled | Confused or unable to understand |
| trace | A small sign that shows something was there |
| throttle | The lever used to control the speed of an engine |
| helpless | Unable to help oneself or do anything |
| guide | To show the way |
| black as pitch | Completely dark, without any light |
Thinking about the Text (Q&A of The Black Aeroplane)
1. “I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?
Type: Short Answer Type
Answer: The risk is flying through the massive storm cloud instead of turning back to Paris. The narrator takes this risk because he is eager to reach England, meet his family, and have breakfast, showing his longing for home and comfort.
2. Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.
Type: Long Answer Type
Answer: As the narrator flies into the storm, the situation becomes terrifying. The Dakota is thrown around by violent winds, and flashes of lightning illuminate the pitch-black sky, creating a chaotic scene. The compass and other instruments fail, leaving him disoriented and anxious. Amid this turmoil, he feels completely lost and trapped in darkness, but his determination to reach home keeps him going despite the overwhelming fear and confusion.
3. Why does the narrator say, “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota…”?
Type: Short Answer Type
Answer: The narrator says this because, after the harrowing experience in the storm, he feels relieved to be safely on the ground. The frightening ordeal has left him shaken, and he’s glad to escape the risky and unstable environment of his old Dakota plane.
4. What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely?
Type: Very Short Answer Type
Answer: The woman looks at the narrator strangely because he asks about the mysterious black aeroplane that guided him through the storm, but there were no records of any other planes flying at that time.
5. Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer.
Type: Long Answer Type
Answer: It’s open to interpretation, but many readers believe that a supernatural force or a guardian angel may have helped the narrator. Since the black aeroplane disappeared mysteriously and had no pilot registration, it suggests that something beyond the natural realm guided him to safety. This invisible support, possibly a miracle or an act of fate, creates a sense of mystery, leading readers to wonder if it was divine intervention.
Thinking about the Language
I. Now, try to guess the meanings of the word ‘black’ in the sentences given below. Check the meanings in the dictionary and find out whether you have guessed right.
- Go and have a bath; your hands and face are absolutely black.
Meaning: Here, “black” means covered in dirt or very dirty. - The taxi-driver gave Ratan a black look as he crossed the road when the traffic light was green.
Meaning: “Black look” here means an angry or hostile look. - The bombardment of Hiroshima is one of the blackest crimes against humanity.
Meaning: “Blackest crimes” refers to the most terrible or evil acts. - Very few people enjoy Harold Pinter’s black comedy.
Meaning: “Black comedy” refers to a type of comedy that makes light of serious, dark, or morbid subjects. - Sometimes shopkeepers store essential goods to create false scarcity and then sell these in black.
Meaning: “In black” means selling goods illegally or on the black market, often at high prices. - Villagers had beaten the criminal black and blue.
Meaning: “Black and blue” means severely bruised, indicating the criminal was beaten badly, resulting in bruises.
II. Match the phrases given under Column A with their meanings given under Column B:
ANSWER:
- Fly a flag – Display a flag on a long pole
- Fly into rage – Become suddenly very angry
- Fly along – Move quickly/suddenly
- Fly high – Be successful
- Fly the coop – Escape from a place
III. We know that the word ‘fly’ (of birds/insects) means to move through air using wings. Tick the words which have the same or nearly the same meaning.
ANSWER:
- swoop
- flit
- flutter
- ascend
- float
- skim
- dart
- hover
- glide
- soar
- sail
Writing
Have you ever been alone or away from home during a thunderstorm? Narrate your experience in a paragraph.
Sample Paragraph:
One summer, I faced a thunderstorm alone at my grandparents’ farm. Dark clouds gathered, thunder roared, and the wind rattled the small guest room windows. Lightning burst across the fields, both frightening and captivating me with nature’s force. Each thunderclap shook the floor and made my heart pound. I wrapped myself tightly in a blanket, whispering for calm as the storm raged on. Slowly, the rain eased, thunder faded, and a strange peace settled over the land. Though terrifying, that storm left me with a deep awe and respect for nature’s raw power.
Extract-Based MCQs from The Black Aeroplane
Extract 1:
“Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black. It was impossible to see anything outside the aeroplane. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. I looked at the compass. I couldn’t believe my eyes: the compass was turning round and round and round. It was dead.”
- What happened to the compass in the narrator’s aeroplane?
- (a) It pointed north
- (b) It turned in circles
- (c) It showed the correct path
- (d) It stopped working
Answer: (b) It turned in circles
- How did the narrator feel as he entered the clouds?
- (a) Excited
- (b) Calm
- (c) Helpless
- (d) Amused
Answer: (c) Helpless
- Which word best describes the condition of the aeroplane inside the storm?
- (a) Steady
- (b) Secure
- (c) Unstable
- (d) Swift
Answer: (c) Unstable
Extract 2:
“Then, in the black clouds quite near me, I saw another aeroplane. It had no lights on its wings, but I could see it flying next to me through the storm. I could see the pilot’s face – turned towards me. I was very glad to see another person. He lifted one hand and waved.”
- What unusual characteristic did the other aeroplane have?
- (a) It was brightly lit
- (b) It had no lights
- (c) It was painted black
- (d) It made no sound
Answer: (b) It had no lights
- How did the narrator react on seeing the other pilot?
- (a) He was frightened
- (b) He felt relieved
- (c) He ignored him
- (d) He was jealous
Answer: (b) He felt relieved
- What did the other pilot do when the narrator saw him?
- (a) He signaled him to follow
- (b) He asked him to turn back
- (c) He ignored him
- (d) He warned him of danger
Answer: (a) He signaled him to follow
Extract 3:
“I was lost in the storm. Then, as I looked down, I saw the lights of a runway — an airport. I was safe! I turned to look for my friend in the black aeroplane, but the sky was empty. There was nothing there. The black aeroplane had gone.”
- What did the narrator see below him that made him feel safe?
- (a) Another plane
- (b) A lighthouse
- (c) A runway with lights
- (d) A rescue team
Answer: (c) A runway with lights
- What emotion did the narrator feel after finding the airport?
- (a) Relief
- (b) Panic
- (c) Disappointment
- (d) Anger
Answer: (a) Relief
- What mystery was left unsolved in this extract?
- (a) The runway lights
- (b) The black aeroplane’s disappearance
- (c) The weather conditions
- (d) The airport’s location
Answer: (b) The black aeroplane’s disappearance
Extract 4:
“‘But the strange thing was that there was no other aeroplane flying that night. Yours was the only one I could see on the radar,’ she said, looking at me very strangely.”
- Who is “she” in this extract?
- (a) The narrator’s wife
- (b) A fellow passenger
- (c) A control tower woman
- (d) Another pilot
Answer: (c) A control tower woman
- What does the woman’s reaction suggest?
- (a) She is angry with the narrator
- (b) She is suspicious of the narrator
- (c) She finds the situation strange and puzzling
- (d) She thinks the narrator is lying
Answer: (c) She finds the situation strange and puzzling
- What was unusual about the radar findings?
- (a) It showed multiple aeroplanes
- (b) It didn’t show the black aeroplane
- (c) It had stopped working
- (d) It had malfunctioned
Answer: (b) It didn’t show the black aeroplane
Extract 5:
“Who was the pilot on the strange black aeroplane, flying in the storm, without lights? I wanted to know… but I could not answer the question.”
- What question does the narrator ponder over?
- (a) Who saved him from the storm?
- (b) Why the radar failed
- (c) How he lost his way
- (d) Why the airport was empty
Answer: (a) Who saved him from the storm?
- Why does the narrator describe the aeroplane as “strange”?
- (a) It had unusual markings
- (b) It appeared and disappeared mysteriously
- (c) It was an old model
- (d) It had special equipment
Answer: (b) It appeared and disappeared mysteriously
- What feeling does the narrator have regarding the black aeroplane?
- (a) Fear
- (b) Gratitude mixed with curiosity
- (c) Anger
- (d) Indifference
Answer: (b) Gratitude mixed with curiosity
Additional Subjective Questions and Answers for The Black Aeroplane (Important)
Very Short Answer Type (1-2 sentences)
- What problem did the narrator face with his aeroplane while flying through the storm?
Answer: The narrator’s aeroplane was tossed around by the storm, the compass stopped working, and he couldn’t see anything outside the plane. - Why was the narrator excited to see another plane in the storm?
Answer: The narrator felt relieved to see another plane because he was feeling lost and hoped it could guide him to safety. - How did the narrator feel after landing the plane?
Answer: The narrator felt grateful and relieved to be safe, but was puzzled by the mystery of the black aeroplane that had disappeared.
Short Answer Type (30-40 words)
- Why did the narrator decide to keep flying towards England despite the storm?
Answer: The narrator was determined to reach home to see his family for breakfast. He took the risk despite the storm, hoping he could navigate through it to get home safely. - What was unusual about the black aeroplane according to the narrator’s experience?
Answer: The black aeroplane had no lights on its wings, and it appeared out of nowhere to guide the narrator through the storm. After he landed, it mysteriously disappeared without a trace. - Describe the narrator’s feelings when he first noticed the compass spinning and the instruments failing.
Answer: The narrator felt anxious and helpless as he realized he was completely lost in the storm with no working instruments. The situation was frightening, and he didn’t know how he would make it out safely.
Long Answer Type (60-70 words)
- Why was the control tower woman puzzled when the narrator asked about the black aeroplane?
Answer: The woman at the control tower was puzzled because the radar showed no other planes flying that night besides the narrator’s. She had not seen any black aeroplane, which confused both her and the narrator, making the situation seem mysterious and inexplicable. - Explain why the narrator took a risk flying through the storm instead of turning back to Paris.
Answer: The narrator was eager to get home to have breakfast with his family and didn’t want to delay his journey. Though he knew the storm was dangerous, his longing to be with his loved ones gave him the courage to take the risk of flying through it. - What do you think the black aeroplane symbolizes in the story?
Answer: The black aeroplane might symbolize hope and guidance in challenging times. It appears mysteriously when the narrator feels lost and helpless, almost like a guardian helping him reach safety. This element adds mystery and wonder to the story. - How does the story The Black Aeroplane explore the theme of mystery and faith?
Answer: The story delves into mystery with the sudden appearance and disappearance of the black aeroplane, leaving unanswered questions. It also explores faith, as the narrator trusts the unknown pilot to lead him safely. This faith ultimately helps him survive the storm, even though he never learns who or what helped him.
Pingback: First Flight English Class 10 NCERT All Chapters - Solved Notes